Chances are your child has expressed interest in doing something dangerous. Most kids do. But of all the dangerous things that a child could be doing, skateboarding is one of the more constructive: It improves stability and balance, takes patience and repetition and there is nobody to blame when something goes wrong but yourself.
From a gimmicky hobby that was chastised as a trend to being an integral part of the 2024 Summer Olympics, skateboarding has spread far and wide. Though it has its risks, skateboarding can be done responsibly with proper safety measures. Here is a list of the top five skateparks in the Philadelphia area for kids who want to start shredding from square one.
McCreesh Skatepark
McCreesh is a great spot for beginners. It is located in an old hockey rink at a well-known park with other activities and has phenomenal pavement, gradual slopes and plenty of other skaters learning the initial steps of the sport. Stop by McCreesh when you’re in and around Southwest Philly to roll around and practice pushing off and dragging your tail to stop. Plus, there is an awesome spine in the middle in the shape of an S that, while too advanced for a beginner, offers some very cool observations when someone manages to take it on successfully.
Grays Ferry
While the idea of a skatepark under a bridge may conjure up unsavory thoughts, Grays Ferry is a great place for beginners to scoot around and watch and learn from experts. The Grays Ferry Avenue Bridge offers shade on a hot summer day, and the variety of sloped features as opposed to flat ones that require ollies to reach make this a good place for groms. Dropping in is also a good thing to learn here, as some of the pipes aren’t as tall as they are at other area parks.
Front Street Skatepark
Located south of Center City, just West of the Delaware river and Washington Avenue Green, Front Street Skatepark is good for a beginner with specific parameters. If you want to do more observing than skating and aren’t intimidated by experts, this is the place for you. Additionally, if you are at the stage where pushing around on flat ground is your maximum level of commitment and you aren’t ready for bowls or slopes, Front Street is a good choice, as the surfaces are flat. Here, you will see some of the best skaters in the city and get to soak up the best vibes of the sport, all in the shade and close to the city’s best offerings in the event that you want skating to be just a part, and not the focus, of the day.
Pop Skatepark
For those in the northern Philly area, Pop’s skatepark is a skating beacon that has been full of local talent since it was created in 2009. It has a host of space dedicated to low-intensity piping that beginners can practice dropping in on once they get their flatground technique down. The pavement at Pop’s isn’t as good as some other places, but that’s part of the sport and will only make you more well-rounded. Pop’s is also a community center as much as a skatepark—just last year, the staff hosted a movie night at the park.
Radnor Skatepark
For those who want to stay in the suburbs for at least the initial phases of their children’s skating career, Radnor Skatepark is a great option. While the features here are as difficult as any park in the area, that isn’t relevant to a beginner. All your rookie needs to know is that there is flat, well-maintained pavement, shade for breaks and bathrooms nearby. Plus, those aforementioned difficult features make for some absolutely stellar spectating.
